Manitoba to use tobacco suit windfall to fight cancer: Premier
A windfall from a lawsuit against big tobacco could see a major expansion to help cancer patients.
“Every single dollar is going to be spent fighting cancer, said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.
Kinew says his government has been told that the province is set to get up to half a billion dollars later this year, or next, from a settlement against tobacco companies - and there could be more in future years.
Manitoba filed the legal action in 2012 joining other provinces.
"We're getting clear enough signals about this that I think it's time Manitobans do hear the news that there are going to be dollars coming from these tobacco lawsuits,” said Kinew.
The premier says some of the money will be used to expand CancerCare Manitoba.
When CancerCare Manitoba opened in 2003, it was already full.
Plans for a new state of the art facility were put on hold by the former conservative government in 2017.
“So now we're obviously going to have to update that you can't just tell the same plans off the rack, so to speak, so we're going to want to spend a bit of time working with CancerCare Manitoba,” said the premier.
The Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA) says the funding amounts likely won't fully compensate for the harm smoking has caused over the decades.
"The reality is smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in our country. In fact it, causes almost 50,000 deaths a year,” said Cynthia Carr from MANTRA
However, the organization says this is an opportunity beyond a new CancerCare building. It says more prevention measures are needed.
"To stop access to tobacco products, vaping products, and vaping is certainly a significant health issue among are youth,” Carr said.
The Premier says some of the money will be earmarked for prevention.
"We're taking some action already bringing in the vape tax is one example. We'll definitely be there to have the conversation about further steps we should take,” said Kinew.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.
Stars roar back to win Game 3 over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Israel close to approving Gaza reunification program before Rafah invasion: Miller
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Israel seemed to be on the verge of approving a program to get Palestinian relatives of Canadians out of the Gaza Strip before the country's invasion of the town of Rafah.